Electricity surged through my palm as it came in contact with Von's broken skin. I groaned as it zapped up my arm.
It was nothing like the electrifying feeling that overcame my body whenever Valen and I touched. This feeling was painful and draining.
My mind began to get foggy and my vision blurred. I shook my head to try and clear it, but it only made the room spin more.
I could hear my breathing accelerate. Von began to groan and his back involuntarily twitched. I grit my teeth and focused on the wound.
"Be careful," Sienna warned me. "You could end up in worse shape than he is now if you don't pace yourself."
I took a deep breath and centered my thoughts. My arm was beginning to go numb from the jolts of energy flying through it, but I ignored it.
I felt a burst of heat in my chest and moved my concentration to it. As soon as I did, the feeling travelled from my chest, down my arm, and onto my palm.
It spread across the entire surface and engulfed Von's wound. I pushed the warmth into his skin and it felt as though the light was eager to go where it was needed.
For every exchange of light, however, there was also one of darkness.
I could feel the smoky wisps leave his body and enter mine. They'd shoot straight from his ragged skin and travel up my arm and into my heart. It felt like I was repeatedly being stabbed.
I gasped and opened my eyes. I watched in wonder as the skin on Von's back began stitching itself back together.
The color was slowly returning to his sleeping face, and the red and black splotches were beginning to disappear. I clutched at my chest for a moment as a particularly strong bout of pain seized my heart.
"What are you doing?" an angry voice asked.
I glanced back to see the others had awoken and were watching me with careful eyes. I turned back to Von.
"Healing him," I muttered.
I put my full concentration back on him and willed his body to repair itself faster.
I was panting now and beginning to feel dizzy. I wouldn't last much longer like this. I grit my teeth as my arm began to feel heavy and shake.
"Indigo, you need to stop this!" Valen's panicked voice said from behind me.
" I can't!" I gasped out.
"I have to help him. Just a little more.."
I closed my eyes and a huge flash of light burst behind my eyelids. I yelled out and yanked my arm from Von's back before falling to the floor.
***
I was awoken later on by the feeling of something cool being pressed against my forehead. My eyelids fluttered and a sigh escaped my lips.
I heard a chuckle from somewhere beside me. I slowly opened my eyes to see Aislinn smiling over me and dabbing my forehead with a wet cloth.
"Hey there, sleepyhead."
I smiled at her. The fear that had been consuming her before seemed to be gone now.
"What happened?" I asked and tried to sit up.
Two warm hands grasped my shoulders and gently laid me back down. I knew who it was by the tingles running across my skin who it was.
"You shouldn't move just yet. You've been unconscious for a day and a half," Valen muttered.
I could tell from the bags under his eyes that he had been worried about me but his tone was cold.
"What happened?" I repeated.
Aislinn removed the cloth from my forehead and sat beside me.
"You did it," she said.
A smile crossed her face.
"You healed him."
The memories came crashing back and I gasped and reached for my heart.
I could remember the ache, the pain that was accompanied by every strained beat. I was relieved to realize that it was no longer there.
"Von is going to be okay?" I asked incredulously.
Aislinn nodded her head. I sighed in relief and laid my head back down on the pillow.
"Why have I been asleep for so long?"
"You sapped all of your energy," Valen answered.
"The pack doctor told us your heart rate was extremely high for a while. He was worried you'd have a heart attack. He had to administer a sedative just to get it to go down."
I glanced up at my mate. I felt guilty for some reason.
I'd done something good, but he was upset with me and I didn't understand why.
The room was silent for a moment before Aislinn quietly excused herself. Valen sat beside me on the bed and put his head in his hands. I reached my hand out and gently touched his back.
"What's wrong?" I whispered.
He stayed silent for a beat before raising his head and meeting my gaze. His eyes were rimmed red and his irises kept flashing between his stunning blue and deep crimson.
"Do you understand how worried I was? I thought I was going to lose you. I couldn't reach you when you were out. Neither could Orion. I really thought you weren't going to wake up."
His voice was raspy and quiet. He took my small hands in his.
"For Goddess sake, Indigo, look what you've done to yourself."
He held my arms up for me to see and I gasped.
My hands were gray, my fingertips stained black. Swirls of smoky, delicate designs ran up the length of my forearms and stopped at the crook of my elbow.
I rolled my wrists and flexed my hands, testing out their mobility. It all seemed normal.
"What does it mean?" Valen's pained eyes met mine once again.
"You gave Von your light in order to heal his injury. He will make a full recovery. But in turn, you took on the darkness that was embedded in his flesh. His injury was made out of hate and discontent. Now it's permanently marked your body and damaged your heart."
My eyes widened.
"So... you're saying I can't heal people without slowly killing myself?"
He nodded solemnly.
Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. What was the point of this gift if I couldn't use it? Then it clicked.
Selene had told me I was the balance. That every time I used my gifts I would have to make sure I didn't let the darkness overrun me. This was no different from that.
I explained as much to Valen and he shook his head angrily.
"No, Indigo. I can't let you continue to do this. I need you. This pack needs you. Please, don't do it again," he pleaded with me. Tears rimmed his eyes and I sighed.
"I promise," I whispered. Valen closed his eyes and leaned into me, pressing a kiss to each of my hands.
"Thank you."
I pulled him closer to me and wrapped my arms around him as we began to fall asleep.
Author's Note:
Okay, now we're going to the time jump. Sorry, I was a little early with my last warning! Don't worry, we won't miss anything important, and I'll make sure you understand the things that are.
What did you think of this chapter? Was Indigo right to promise she wouldn't use her healing gift anymore? Do you think Valen went a little overboard making her promise that, or is he justified?
Comment and Vote if you liked it!
Xoxo,
CrimsynIris